Protest missives in varsity support

ALOK KUMAR IN GAYA

The Central University of Bihar Struggling Committee has decided to send more than five lakh postcards to the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry in support of their demand for setting up Central University of Bihar in Gaya.

The committee also plans to carry out an awareness drive in various parts of the state. Association convener Vijay Kumar Mithu told The Telegraph on Tuesday that a plan has been chalked out to spread awareness in at least 18 districts of south and central Bihar.

According to the plan, members of the committee would visit Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Nawada, Bhojpur and Rohtas on July 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20, respectively.

The programme for districts such as Arwal, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai,Begusarai, Munger, Bhabua, Buxar and Patna would be finalised later. A huge public meeting has been organised at Azad Park in Gaya on August 1, on the birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, where people from all 18 districts will participate.

Mithu said: “During today’s (Tuesday’s) agitation at Ambedkar Park, we raised our demand for having the university at at Panchanpur in Tekari block of Gaya.”

Sibal has already given his nod for setting up the university in Gaya. A plot of 960 acres of old airport near Panchanpur village, at present under the possession of the defence ministry, has been identified for setting up the university.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar is opposed to have the institute in Gaya and has shot off a letter to the HRD minister favouring the university in Motihari. Nitish has also written a letter to Union defence minister A.K. Antony, urging the latter not to hand over the defence land for the university and return it to the state government.